Over the past 30 years, 170,000 boys between the ages of 5 and 19 have left Armenia. This is what former MP Aram Manukyan said during hearings entitled “Educational Reforms: Upcoming Strategic Challenges” held by the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport of the National Assembly of Armenia today.

The politician stated that the country actually lost soldiers, spouses, manufacturers and taxpayers. “These people are no longer in Armenia. The emigration issue needs to be solved. If not, Armenia will never solve any issue,” Manukyan declared.

He added that most of the young boys leave the country in a desperate attempt to avoid military service. “They want to avoid serving in the army of a country that is actually in a state of war. Let’s not assess whether this is good or bad. This is just a fact,” the politician clarified, adding that most of the issues will be solved after a “dignified” solution to the Karabakh issue.